Global Witness – Minerals and Conflict Fact Sheet (12/05/14)

Mining in fragile states increases the likelihood of violent insurgencies and increases their duration and intensity. Poor governance means that natural resource revenue that could be used to reduce aid dependency and fund development often fuels corruption and weakens governments instead. Driving greater accountability and transparency is important not just as a humanitarian concern, but for the national security of the United States and its allies. Better natural resource management lessens the likelihood of conflicts that result in US troop deployments or US financing of peacekeeping and enforcement missions, and reduces the risk of crime, terrorism and other spillover effects which can create instability on a regional scale.